Spruce Grove’s pioneer past is all but a forgotten time for current residents.

To jog memories, the Spruce Grove and District Agricultural Heritage Society purchased the town grain elevator before its demolition in 1995. It is a museum and holds Farm and Heritage Kids Carnivals to honour the past.

Over 100 people came out to the area Saturday for the annual event. It featured face painting, balloon twisting, pony rides and small petting zoo animals for the public to frolic, cavort and have fun interacting with.

Site manager and event coordinator Ella Guenette says the day offers a lot to people, but her main goal is to get those who did not see the era of elevators to appreciate the role they once served in the region.

“They need to know where the bread comes from,” she said. “That is why we have the games that are like growing the crop outside. Elevators used to be so crucial, there are now 100 left and before, when they were gone, farmers would often pack up and move out of a community.”

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2019 Farm and Heritage Kids Carnival

More than 100 people came out to the Spruce Grove Grain Elevator on Saturday for the 2019 Farm and Heritage Kids Carnival. It featured face painting, balloon twisting, pony rides and small petting zoo animals for the public to frolic, cavort and have fun interacting with.

Baby and adult goats wait to be released to be pet by visitors to the 2019 Farm and Heritage Carnival in Spruce Grove. Evan J. Pretzer

The march of time meant that railways shut down under-utilized lines. With those closures came the end of the elevator use and ultimate replacement by concrete terminals that see farmers ship their wheat further inland to sell.

Guenette added those who attended the carnival this year and in prior times took in the mystique of this system. For her, it was a highlight to see smiles unfold on their many faces.

“I love to see them grin as they get that education and play simple games,” Guenette said. “It is important and shows where we come from.”

Yahozka Godfrey was visiting from Edmonton and concurred with this assessment.

“I hope people have an appreciation for agriculture, the great vendors and everything else when they are done,” she said.

Nixon Lambie did not have much to say. For the toddler, the most important thing was the animals she got to see.